The 411 Music Top 5 07.01.08 Just the Facts Ma'am

Posted by Blake Lauderback on 07.01.2008

This week's Top 5 is 100% fact! Check out the lists as we cover the most successful acts of all time. Find out how we prove our work inside!

It is time for another round of the Top 5 with the Music Zone. This week we will be taking a very different approach to the Top 5. Welcome to the first FACTUAL edition of the Music Zone Top 5.


Hello boys and girls. It is wonderful to be back in the proverbial saddle with the Music Zone Top 5. So, here is the deal. After some careful deliberation, I have decided to throw you guys a bit of a curb this week. As those familiar with what we do here can tell you, we usually lineup some writers from here at the Music Zone and we break down a single topic by all creating our own personal lists and defending our choices. I personally love this concept, as there are few things I value more than a good discussion about the music we are all so passionate about.

However, I think it important to look at the flip side of opinion. (That would be fact for the slow kids in the class.) How can one form an opinion and defend it effectively without some working knowledge of what it is that he is so impassionedly defending? So, I decided to let the other guys enjoy a week of summer vacation in the sun while I take on the job of filling your noggins with some FACTUAL Top 5 goodness. (Though I am not making any promises that I won't sneak some of my own thoughts in there too.)

This week we'll focus in on some Top Sales Records.

Any questions? No? Good. Let's get to it.

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DISCLAIMER: The sales numbers and rankings are taken from multiple sources, several of which seem to disagree with one another on the mathematics. Hopefully I have given you all the most correct information possible.

The Top 5 Selling Bands of All Time

5. AC/DC - Few bands have achieved the same level of success as this band from the land down under, but even fewer of them managed to do it after the passing of a band member. This band has proven to be the definition of survivors in both the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson eras, keeping old school hard rock alive while many of their contemporaries fell by the wayside.

4. Pink Floyd - Do you know what is really remarkable about Pink Floyd being in this spot? They are not a band known for blowaway singles like much of rest of this group. Pink Floyd was not only a progressive rock pioneer, but also one of the first bands to exemplify album rock. Their classic works are best heard as an entire piece instead of little radio friendly snippets.

3. The Eagles - A massive crossover success, these guys appealed to multiple genres with their solid songwriting and great musicianship. As far as my personal tastes go, The Eagles were at their greatest once Joe Walsh joined the lineup. It is not that I dislike their other work, but he brings an outstanding rock edge to the group (along with some fancy fretwork.)

2. Led Zeppelin - The guys were not only a godfather of hard rock and heavy metal, but one could make an argument for this band being the most talented collection of individual musicians in rock history. Like number one on this list, they had a fantastic career filled with brilliant albums, and managed to reach this level despite their tenure together being cut short by the death of drummer John Bonham.

1. The Beatles - This is as it should be my friends. In fact, The Beatles have outsold Zeppelin by nearly double! Pretty remarkable considering that none of their albums are top five sellers, which means that achieved this success by having an all around amazing catalogue filled with songs and albums that the world could/can identify with. Long live the greatest!

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The Top 5 Selling Albums of All Time (U.S. Sales)

5. Back in Black by AC/DC (21 million sold) - When this album was released in 1980, many thought that Angus and company were finished after the death of lead singer Bon Scott. Instead, the boys used the vocal power of new front man Brian Johnson to create their most successful album ever. This album is packed with down and dirty classic rock with songs like "Back in Black" and "Shook Me All Night Long."

3. (TIED) The Wall by Pink Floyd (23 million sold) - This one seems a bit suprising to me, not because it isn't a worthwhile candidate, because it most certainly is, but rather because one would expect the mighty Floyd to be represented by Dark Side of the Moon considering that it stayed on the charts for a little over fourteen years. I am not complaining though, as this double-disc masterpiece contains my favorite song by Roger and the boys in "Comfortably Numb."

3. (TIED) Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin (23 million sold) - I would imagine that this album would have stilled cracked the top ten ever even if it only featured the song it is best known for… a little tune called "Stairway to Heaven." Add in tracks like "Black Dog" and "Rock and Roll" and you have an absolute classic.

2. Thriller by Michael Jackson (27 million sold) - Normally, I would make some comment about how this proves that the general public is lacking in musical taste, but since I seem to be the minority here since I do not own this album, I will just have to agree to disagree (strongly) with all of you.

1. Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 by The Eagles (29 million sold) - I think a great deal of this album's success has to do with the fact that The Eagles were really a crossover act that appealed to a massive segment of the buying public. Any time one band can manage to corner the rock and country markets, success is inevitable. Not even heavy hitters like Garth Brooks and Lynyrd Skynyrd could match this bands appeal to both sides of the fence.

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The Top 5 Selling Solo Artists of All Time

5. Bing Crosby - Bing is a personal favorite of mine, as his voice is one of the most outstanding in all of recorded history. He was everything, a movie star, serious actor, comedian, and crooner, and he did so while always feeling accessible, like a ridiculously talented and charming every man.

4. Frank Sinatra - Old Blue Eyes is truly an icon of a bygone era. He is the definition of a crooner, and his outstanding career has given us countless classic recordings. It is a shame that he seems to be a forgotten idol in the present day. If more kids would pick up some Sinatra and put down the Emo, real music might rear it's head again. I am even willing to compromise and let them keep the eyeliner.

3. Michael Jackson - He is not my cup of tea, but then again, as a Beatles fan, he is public enemy number two (behind Yoko of course.) He obviously has vocal talent and at one point was one the best performers around. Who knows? He might be number one on this list had his life not become the freak show that it has in the past decade or so.

2. Elvis Pressley - Who knows where the music industry, no to mention our culture in general, would be without one Mr. Elvis Aron Pressley. The King of Rock and Roll left a permanent mark on the industry with his ground breaking style and swiveling hips. Here is hoping that generations to come will still appreciate his contributions to popular music.

1. Garth Brooks - It saddens me that country music holds this glorious title, but I find solace in the fact that Brooks seems like a nice enough guy. I still think it is criminal that he is ahead of The King, however. Go out and buy some freaking Elvis!

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The Top 5 Selling Singles of All Time

5. "Hey Jude" by The Beatles - What is really remarkable about the success of this song is that it was seen by many to be entirely too long to be successful on the radio. This track paved the way for future epic songs like "Stairway to Heaven," "Bohemian Rhapsody," and "Freebird."

4. "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles - 1960's pop/rock at it's absolute greatest, this song cemented what most of the world already knew, that The Beatles were the most powerful dog on the block, and that they were here to stay. This holds true to this day, nearly forty years removed from their last performance, as their albums continue to sell by the millions.

3. "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and the Comets - One of the biggest hit songs from the early rock and roll days of the 1950's. This song remains deeply rooted in the world's consciousness, and is instant nostalgia for anybody that lived through the early days of rock. (It could have something to do with Happy Days too. I am not sure!)

2. "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby - In my humble opinion, this is the quintessential Christmas song. It isn't December until I have heard this classic, and since I have been uprooted from my home and all of my other Christmas traditions, I will be leaning on this song more than ever when that special time of year comes around.

1. "Candle in the Wind '97 (Goodbye England's Rose)" by Elton John - Some songs are remembered for catchy lyrics, others for their outrageous subjects, and some just because they were the perfect comfort for the world during a dark time. This song, originally penned for fallen movie star Marilyn Monroe, was rerecorded by one of Britain's finest songwriters in response to the tragic death of Princess Dianna, who was one of the most beloved individuals worldwide. Millions flocked to pick up this track as a way to grieve the loss of one of their heroes.

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And there it is ladies and gents, the first ever "Factual" top 5. We will be returning to our regular scheduled program next week as all of the writers should be right back here to join me in our attempts to stir up trouble with our pesky opinions, but every now and then, we will revisit this format.

Hope you enjoyed it. Pass along any feedback or ideas you might have, as I would be more than happen to listen.

Have a great week, and I'll see you back in seven.